Thread: That time of year again, Bledisloe

Originally Posted by Celtoid

Yup, the Aussie scrum was doomed ... whatever the tactical reasons were. It was pretty obvious.



The big fellas in black didn't look so stoked when the numbers were back on, scrum and field play was contested and won ... and tries scored. Charity you recon?


Shame it was only for ten minutes or so ...LOL!!!

Aus could have put the loosie in at lock, added two backs to the sides of the scrum, (i.e. had nine in the scrum), and it still wouldn't have made any difference, thats how important your specialist lock is at scrum time.

Having said that, the scrums through the two games have been pretty even, and if one has gained dominance, it has been pretty soon reversed, but, as we saw on Saturday, scrums are only happen 5-10 times a match. There can be 100 odd breakdowns (rucks) in a game. Which would you want to dominate?

Originally Posted by Celtoid

Yup, the Aussie scrum was doomed ... whatever the tactical reasons were. It was pretty obvious.



The big fellas in black didn't look so stoked when the numbers were back on, scrum and field play was contested and won ... and tries scored. Charity you recon?


Shame it was only for ten minutes or so ...LOL!!!

Nah, no charity, that Folau try was well worked, and the piece of individual brilliance from the Wallaby captain showed up some poor defense. Certainly softened the scoreline difference a tad...

Originally Posted by Hastykiwi

Aus could have put the loosie in at lock, added two backs to the sides of the scrum, (i.e. had nine in the scrum), and it still wouldn't have made any difference, thats how important your specialist lock is at scrum time.

Having said that, the scrums through the two games have been pretty even, and if one has gained dominance, it has been pretty soon reversed, but, as we saw on Saturday, scrums are only happen 5-10 times a match. There can be 100 odd breakdowns (rucks) in a game. Which would you want to dominate?

Rock and a hard place I suppose mate in some cases. I take your point.


But I'm sure we've both watched games where a team just could not contest a scrum .... and then through tactical play .... many more scrums happen. It's sickening to watch, cause you know the team will either be pushed over or collapse the scrum.


Fortunately for the Wallabies that weakness was only temporary.

Originally Posted by Celtoid

Rock and a hard place I suppose mate in some cases. I take your point.


But I'm sure we've both watched games where a team just could not contest a scrum .... and then through tactical play .... many more scrums happen. It's sickening to watch, cause you know the team will either be pushed over or collapse the scrum.


Fortunately for the Wallabies that weakness was only temporary.

Absolutely. But think about this. When Aus have beaten the AB's, what do you remember. Personally from the losing side, I don't remember what happened in the scrums, BUT, I can be certain that in any of those instances, Aus will have owned us at the breakdown.